"As an American asked to serve, I was prepared to fight, to be wounded, to be captured and even prepared to die, But I was not prepared to be abandoned!"
>> Moped Tour Mekong Delta <<
(7 days)
Day I: Mui Ne to Long Hai
We were excited when we started our second trip with Khanh and Huan. Our first stop was close to Mui Ne..
> the Towers of the Chambs in Phu Hai <
> the Towers of the Chambs in Phu Hai <
> the Temple of the Whales in Phan Thiet <
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> Harbor of Phan Thiet < |
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> Red Canyon Tien Thanh <
Like the other trips, we got to know more about Vietnam. We saw shrimp farms, visit a factory of sardines by La Gi, smelled dried onions...
> Ghost Beach Ke Ga <
When we rode along the coastline, we recognized a lot of abandoned hotel resorts, left to their own, struggling with weather, ocean and the time. If you want to see more fotos, check out >> Ghost Story Vietnam <<
When we rode along the coastline, we recognized a lot of abandoned hotel resorts, left to their own, struggling with weather, ocean and the time. If you want to see more fotos, check out >> Ghost Story Vietnam <<
In the afternoon, we met the shipbuilder in the boat builder's yard and the fishermen and the net women in the harbor of Loc An. Before, we passed by land which is used for the earning of salt.
> Beach Ho Cac <
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Day II: Long Hai to Long Thanh
In the morning we had a nice ride along the coastline of Long Hai, passing by a few street fruit markets to get to our first goal.
> The Monkey Temple of Long Hai <
> The Caves of Dat Do by Long Hai <
Three different places: the stonecutter by Baria who work for so less money but use magic when breaking the rock or the stone carver from My Xuan who make every face of a buddha unique or the silence in the Yoga Temple in Nham Trach.
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Day III: Long Thanh to Ben Tre
Today we reached the Mekong Delta. You can tell by crossing rivers, cruising in crowded ferries and driving over a lot bridges. Stopping at a wood farm underneath a bridge who just makes poles out of a special wood material for the under construction of the houses here in that region. Because of all the rivers and swampy areas, everything has to build up on wooden stilts.
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> War Memorial of Tan An < |
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> Snakefarm Binh Duc <
Next to snakes and reptiles, you can find other animals like monkeys, bears and deers as well.
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> The Bridge of Rach Mieu < |
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> River My Tho by Ben Tre <
The first highlight of the day was the private boat tour on the river My Tho. There we stopped at the swimming fishing farms and viewed the town from the waterside.
The first highlight of the day was the private boat tour on the river My Tho. There we stopped at the swimming fishing farms and viewed the town from the waterside.
The Mekong Delta has its own flair... huge wide rivers, boats & ships of any size and then we found about the Mekong's secret: the water coconut!
> Cocos River Thoi San by Ben Tre <
Our second highlight of the day. Another private boat tour but different... more silence!
Our second highlight of the day. Another private boat tour but different... more silence!
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Day IV: Ben Tre to Can Tho
In Ben Tre we had the possibility to visit a chocolate factory, in Tan Phu we stopped at the coconut farm and the sweeper maker women. Right next to an old temple of Cao Dai, we turned left to get to our next goal.
> The Bunker of Tan Phu <
Khanh, our guide, had more surprises... An incense farm in Long Tan and a bonsai garden in Long Phu, a rambutan farm in Cho Lach, flour of cassava in Vinh Long and traditional fishing in the Mekong Delta. An insight of Vietnamese work and production.
When you drive through the Mekong you realize the amount of small streams, wide rivers, big lagoons, just water everywhere..
So, it's not our first time that we take a ferry, but believe me, every time it's an adventure to get on it!
Sunset and a thunderstorm nearby viewing from the hotel balcony in Can Tho.
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Border of Cambodia
Day V: Can Tho to Chau Doc
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"Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund" The first movement in the morning: > The Floating Market Can Tho < |
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Like the floating market you can tell that the rivers are still the fastest connection between the farmers of the plantations who sell their products to the people in the market. The flag pole on each boat indicates you what the sailor has on board for sale, e.g. pineapples or sweet potatoes...
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Today, we had a long way to go. When we passed through the cities and villages we saw flags everywhere... tomorrow is National Day in Vietnam. We looked at a temple close to Can Tho, stopped at a Christian church and watched the first harvest of mushrooms...
And we had the first peak on Cambodian's mountains on top of "Sam Nui"
> The Temple of Chua Xu on top of the mountain Sam Nui <
Right next to the temple you find a guard tower of the U.S. The view of the border of Cambodia is amazing.
Right next to the temple you find a guard tower of the U.S. The view of the border of Cambodia is amazing.
At nighttime we visited the other part of the Temple of Chua Xu in the city of Chau Doc. The building was lighted up in different colors and was quite busy with believers who come to pray and burn money to glorify the gods at the end.
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Day VI: Chau Doc to Ha Tien
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Before we started our trip this morning, we stepped over to the Temple of Chua Xu to see it at daylight. > Temple of Chua Xu in Chau Doc < |
Today, we will arrive Ha Tien, the last place at the coast and next to the Cambodian border.
After lunch we found this amazing Khmer temple which is called:
> Temple HUU NGHI <
> Temple HUU NGHI <
So, the road took us along the border and a river and it was a beautiful ride because traffic is not so busy like on the other streets and the scenery appeared peaceful in a part of Vietnam that had to struggle so much.
> Khmer Memorial Ba Chuc <
Before we arrived Ha Tien, we had an unbelievable fund... when we stopped at this bridge, we walked over it to get a nice view of the Cambodia side and found these 3 tombstones... the age of the people who died is not believable, but it seems that Vietnamese can live a long life!
> The Cave Temple Thach Dong & the Khmer Memorial <
You had an impressive view of Cambodia from the Cave Temple.
You had an impressive view of Cambodia from the Cave Temple.
> the Tombs of Family MAC in Ha Tien <
> Beach Mui Nai by Ha Tien <
> Ha Tien at nighttime <
Our dinner was right next to the river with a nice view on the bridge.
Our dinner was right next to the river with a nice view on the bridge.
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Day VII: Ha Tien to Rach Gia
Our last day. Our way was leading us from Ha Tien to Rach Gia. The scenery along the coast was great, but beaches are so polluted in Vietnam like the beach Hon Chong...
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> The Temple To Chau by Ha Tien < An amazing story about this temple which in its construction in the 30s/40s. But when the French came the residents of the village decided that they rather destroy the temple than giving it up to the Catholic. |
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> The Crocodile Caves Yom Ba Trai <
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> The Cave Temple Chua Hong at the Duong Beach and the "Father-Son-Island" Hon Phu Tu < |
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We had a wonderful trip. Khanh and Huan showed us a lot of incredible places and interesting spots, you wouldn't go to because you don't know... Thanks a lot to you guys, take care. |
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